Yarn severing and clamping mechanism for knitting machines



May 1, 1951 E. F. MILLER 2 ,551,385

YARN SEVERING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES OriginalFiled Jan. 16, 1946 WITNESSES 6 Sheets-Sheet l o, w 141202, N, 05 g L 75I Fla]- a 51 5.9 o 3 o INVENTOR: izlgelzeE/ldz'ller,

A TTORNEYS.

y 1951 E. F. MILLER 2,551,385

YARN SEVERING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES OriginalFiled Jan. 16, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR ElljE/ZE/HZ/ll,01/ I BY Z/MI W h ATTORNEYS.

May 11, 1951 E. F. MILLER 2,551,385

YARN SEVERING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES OriginalFiled Jan. 16, 1946 e Sheets-Sheet a FED 67A non/ 1 4 BY W W ATTORNEYS;

y 1951 E. F. MILLER 2,551,385

YARN SEVERING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES OriginalFiled Jan. 16, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 r In: I

'Illllll WITNESSES j 5; M

g BY (fwd W W I I ATTORNEYS.

YARN SEVERING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES E. F. MILLERMay 1, E1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 16, 1946 INVENTOR:El/j/MEM 27101; W W

A TTORN E Y5 y 1951 E. F. MILLER 2,55i,385

YARN SEVERING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES OriginalFiled Jan. 16, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 NVENTOR: Q/ b'zzjefleE/ldz'liez',

ML ATTORNEYS.

Patented May l, 1951 YARN SEVERING AND CLAMPING MECH- ANISM FOR KNITTINGMACHINES Eugene F. Miller, Winston-Salem, N. 0., assignor to HanesHosiery Mills Company, Winston- Salem, N. 0., a corporation of NorthCarolina Original application January 16, 1946, Serial No. 641,504.Divided and this application March 22, 1948, Serial No. 16,296

'7 Claims. (Cl. 66-140) This invention relates to yarn severing andclamping mechanism for knitting machines. More specifically, it isconcerned with yarn severing and clamping mechanism for circularstocking knitting machines of a multi-feed type such as described in U.S. Patent No. 2,146,647 granted to Albert E. Page on February '7, 1939,wherein, during the formation of the body (calf and instep) portionportions of the stockings, the several yarns are concurrently fed andknitted respectively at spaced stations around the needle cylinder, theinstant application being the division of a pending application Ser. No.641,504 for a multi-feed knitting machine, filed by me on January 16,1946, which has matured into Patent No. 2,525,704, under date of October10, 1950.

The present invention has for its aim the provision of an improved yarnsevering and clamping mechanism which is readily adaptable to machinesof the kind referred to, and which can be relied upon to preventinterference between and entanglement of the several yarns employed inthe knitting as they are passed to the individual severing and clampinginstrumentalities when the feeds are inserted, and likewise duringwithdrawal of the yarns from the clamp instrumentalities when the feedsare retracted.

How the foregoing advantages are realized in practice will appear fromthe following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein:

Figs. 1 and 2 are fragmentary views, in different vertical planes, of athree feed circular knitting machine conveniently embodying the yarnsevering and clamping mechanism of my invention.

Fig. 31s a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by the angledarrows III-III in Fig. 1-

showing the feeds for the several yarns employed in the knitting,together with the severing and clamping devices for said yarns.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in sectionlooking as indicated by the angled arrows IVIV in Fig. 3.

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are similar views taken as indicated respectively bythe angled arrows VV, VI-VI, and VII-VII in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a plan sectional view taken as indicated by the angled arrowsVIII-VIII in Fig. 4 with the body yarn feeds in active position.

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary detail sectional views taken as indicatedrespectively by the angled arrows IX-IX and XX in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a view like Fig. 8 with the body yarn feeds retracted showinghow said yarns are drawn into their respective clamps.

Figs. 12-20 are individual detail views of various component parts ofthe yarn severing and clamping means.

Figs. 21-25 are views like Fig. 3 showing how the main and auxiliarybody yarns are pulled out of their respective clamps incident to theirintroduction into the knitting; and,

Figs. 26 and 27 are fragmentary views in section taken as indicatedrespectively by the angled arrows XXVI-XXVI and XXVII-XXVII in Figs. 21and 23.

With reference first more particularly to Figs. l-2, the knittingmachine therein partly shown for convenience of exemplifying myinvention, has a needle cylinder I which is mounted in a stationary bed2 for rotation in the usual counterclockwise direction as indicated bythe curved arrows in Figs. 3 and 11, and which extends up throughanother stationary bed 3 at a higher level, said beds being rigidlysupported by a framework not shown. The means for rotating andoscillating the needle cylinder as required in the production ofseamless hosiery, may be of well known construction and has thereforebeen omitted from the drawings. The control of the yarn feeds of themachine and of the yarn severing instrumentalities presently describedis di-' vided between the usual timing drum 6 and a special supplementaltiming drum 1, these drums being variantly and intermittently shifted,each through a complete rotation during each stocking knitting cycleafter the manner set forth in Patent No. 2,525,704 hereinbefore referredto.

In the machine as illustrated, there'are three yarn feeding stationswhich are indicated at A, B and C in Fig. 3, these being disposed atcircumferentially spaced regions around the circle of needles N. At themain station A are shown interchangeable feed fingers or feeds .35 and36 respectively for a main body yarn a and a heel and toe yarn y; whileat the stations B and C are feed fingers or feeds 44 and 45 respectivelyfor auxiliary body yarns b and 0. These fingers may all be of the usual,pivoted type swingable from a raised inactive position down to feedingposition in relation to the needles and controlled in a well knownmanner through thrust rods (not shown) from the timing drum 6. AlthoughI have shown but one auxiliary feed finger at each of the stations B and0, there may be several as at the main station A for the purposes ofinterchange.

The component parts of my improved yarn severing and clamping mechanismare mounted, as shown in Figs. 1-7, on a fixed disk which carries theactuating cams for the usual transfer bits (not shown) employed informing the setting up course and in closing the stocking welts. Asusual, the disk 60 is supported adjacent the top of the needle cylinderI by an overhanging bracket arm 6| (Figs. 1-2) secured to the latchguard ring 39 of the machine. The transfer bits are slidable asordinarily in a radially grooved dial (not shown) affixed to a verticalshaft 63 immediately below the disk 60 in coaxial relation to the needlecylinder I and rotated in unison with the latter by well known drivingconnections.

The means provided for severing the main yarn a and heel-toe yarn yincludes a horizontally-arranged cutter blade 65 which is pivoted for upand down movement about a stud 66 projecting laterally the flat frontalside of the hub boss 61 of the disk 60, said blade having a sharpenedbottom edge which shears against a ledger blade 68 affixed to one edgeof a slot 60 in said disk, see Figs. 3, 7 and 8. Secured to the topsurface I of the disk 60 is an undercut segmental element or plate 'II(separately illustrated in Fig. 13) formed with an arcuate finger I lawhich extends to the edge of said disk. The end of the finger II a istapered and upwardly rounded at the bottom as best shown in Figs. and13. Through a short drop link 12, the blade 65 is connected to oneextremity of an angular lever 13 (Figs. 1 and '7) fulcrumed for up, anddown movement about a fixed screw stud I5 (Fig. 1) on the latch guardring 39. As shown, the opposite extremity of lever "i3 is engaged frombeneath by a vertical thrust rod I6 which, at its lower end, bears onthe periphery of the main timing drum 6 n t e a o t ped actuating cam re c as the one indicated at I! thereon, and which is he d to aid d um ya spr n 16a- The l m me n o t e main an h elo yarns i u a tongue I8 ofthin sheet metal lying upon a depressed surface 19 of the disk 60 whichsurface mer s it he en urfa e of s disk th o t e ee e ri e at We n F 5-As ho n he ngu .8 held n p si iehb d s 89 and turned u at its free endas at 78a to facilitate ntry f th a ns a a d 11. b nea h it n id nt to daw l f the erres hdins f eds 35 n 36 ro i nt is o be note th t t e a erpor i "b e he u dereu late. el nt H ov rhangs he t p shrfae e the diske. with ncid n a fe me ien there o a h r z l roo 3' f t 1905 a er ex eind- Resting 011 h e e F gs se is th he d of a vertical axis plunger 82which passes through later llvr i e ih uide. ee e 8 1 a e er 8 (Figs. 5and 17) pivotally supported at 84 by a gooseneck bracket 85 with its endbearing on the movable main yarn cutter blade 05, being so held by arelatively strong spring 86. A very light coil spring 81 in compressionbetween the lower ear of the lever Stand the plunger head 82 normallyacts to keep the clam tongue I8 under pressure for capacity toyieldingly retain the yarns inserted beneath it. As a consequence ofthis construction and arrangement, the lever 83 is caused to rise withthe cutter blade 65 upon actuation of the latter, with consequenteasement of the spring 8] and attendant release of the pressure upon theclamp tongue I8 to facilitate withdrawal of the yarns a or y as thecorresponding feed fingers 35 and 36 are retracted. Normally, the cutterblade 65 is held closed through upward pressure upon the lever I3 of aspring-pressed plunger 88 (Fi 7) which is confined for axial movement ina guide hole in the top of the bracket arm 6| the upward movement 4 ofsaid lever being limited by an adjustable stop 89 (Fig. '7) in thebracket arm 6 I.

The serving means for the auxiliary yarn b comprises avertically-arranged stationary blade 90 (Figs. 3, 4, '7 and 8) supportedby a block 9| in turn sustained by a fixed upright stud 92, said bladehaving an inclined cutting edge at its lower end to shear against thesharpened bottom of a lateral notch 93 in the front edge of a verticallymovable blade 94 (Fig. 18) which latter is disposed alongside of and incontact with the back of said stationary blade, and which i suitablyguided at the outer end of said block. The movable blade 94 is limitedin its upward movement through engagement of the bottom of a lateralnotch 95 in the inner edge thereof adjacent the top with a stop stud 96(Fig. '7) on the stationary blade 90. The movable blade 94 is controlledfrom the supplemental timing drum 1 wherefore said drum is provided withcircumferentially spaced cam rises, such as shown at 91 in Fig. 2, tocoact with a finger 98 pivoted onafixed rod 99 and held in engagementwith said drum by a spring 98b, the lateral projection 08a of saidfinger being pivotally connected to the bottom end of another thrust rodI00 whereof the upper end contacts a. lever IOI from beneath. This leverIOI is fulcrumed on the pivot pin 40 of the latch guard ring 39, and atits outer end is provided with a stud I02 which in turn, underreachesthe downwardly inclined extremity of an angular lever; I03 mediaufulcrumed at I04 on a fixed gear cover I05 carried by the bracket 6 I.To the other extremity of the lever I03 is pivoted a drop link I06 witha stud I0! at its lower end engaging a notch I08 in the top of a laterallug projection I08a adjacent the upper end of the movable cutter blade94. A spring I09 (Figs. 2 and 4) in tension between a fixed anchorage II 0 and the blade 94 is relied upon to yieldingly hold the latter raisedwith the lever I03 contacting the pin I02 on the arm IOI. The clampingmeans for the auxiliary yarn b includes an arcuate tongue I I2 (Figs. 3,4, 8 and 15) of thin spring metal like i that of clamp tongue I8,arranged along the edge of the disk and DQil7i0ned by dowel-pins I I3 onthe top surface of the plate II. Pressing on the clamp tongue I I2adjacent its upwardly rounded pointed end H241, is a frusto conicalweight element II5 which is free to move axially of the pendent end ofan angular guide member II 6 of stout wire secured by a set screw II! tothe block 9I and braced by a small bracket piece II8 extending outwardfrom the hub boss of the isk D.- sa urt er m ns fo yi d n y holdins downthe lamp ton ue I 2, here is prov ed a vertical axis plunger head II9(Figs. 4 and 9) ch b ars on sa d ongue. a a ent ts r ot e d. said headbeing subject to a compression spring a d. t ste l2 ein gui ed for up andown movement in the block 9|. To the, upper end of the plunger stem I2Iis secured a collar I22 which is underreached by one end of a smalllever I23 medially fulcrumed at I24 on the block SI and having its otherend underreaching the lug adjacent the movable cutter blade 94. Thuseach time that th blade Skis actuated, the pressure of the spring I20 onthe plunger head H9 is relieved to facilitate entry of the auxiliaryyarn b under, or its removal from beneath, the clamp tongue I I2. Forthe purpose of keeping the auxiliary yarn b away from the main yarncuttin blade as it is passed beneath the clamp tongue II2 uponretraction of its feed finger 44, there is provided an upstanding wireguard I25 :assnsae "5 (Figs. 3-5 and 8) which is bridged over said bladeand which has its ends anchored in the plate element I I.

The severing means for the auxiliary yarn fed at the station C isgenerally like that described for the yarn b'. It comprises averticallyarranged stationary cutter blade I36 which is fixedly securedto the end of the gooseneck bracket 85, see Figs. 3 and 5. As shown, thelower end of the blade I52 is inclined and sharpened to shear with thebottom of a lateral notch I3! in the outer edge of a cooperating movableshear blade I32 adjacent the lower end of the latter which is confinedto up and down sliding movement in contact with said stationary blade.The movable blade I32 is held normally in raised position, as in Fig. 5,by a finger spring I33 whereof the outer end is hooked to underreach alateral outer edge lug projection I35 adjacent the top of said blade.The upward movement of blade I32 is limited through engagement of thebottom of a lateral notch I36 in its inner edge adjacent its top with astop stud I 37 on the stationary blade I35. The movable blade I32 iscontrolled from the supplemental timing drum I (see Fig, 1) throughmeans including another finger I38 pivoted on the rod 93 with its end inthe path of circumferentially spaced cam rises I39 on said drum, thelateral arm I35a of said finger being pivotally connected to the bottomend of another thrust bar I45. The upper end of the bar I45 engagesbeneath one extremity of an angular lever I4I which is medially pivotedon a fixed stud I42, with its other extremity bearing on the top of thelug I35 on the movable blade I32 as shown in Fig. 5. A tension springI43 (Fig. 1) keeps the parts just described in the positions in whichthey are illustrated. The clamp means for the yarn c is in turn in theform of a tongue-like element or tongue I45 of thin sheet metal with apointed upwardly curved end I45a, and rests on still another segmentalplate 545 superposed upon and fixed to the top of the disk 50. As bestshown in Fig. 8, the clamp tongue I45 has a lateral arm projection I45band is positioned against displacement in concentric relation with theedge of the plate by dowel pins I4? and I48. It is also to be noted thatthe top surface of the segmental plate I45 on which the clamp tongue I45 rests is in the same plane as the top of the segmental plate IIopposed by the clamp tongue II2 for the yarn b. Bearing on the clamptongue I45, at a point about midway of its length, is a vertical axisweight plunger I45 which is confined to axial sliding movement in aguide on a block IIl supported by a post I5I upstanding from the disk58. As a further means for yieldingly holding down the clamp tongue I45,there is provided a plunger head I52 which bears on said tongue adjacentits rear end, the stem I53 (Fig. 6) of said plunger being confined toaxial movement in a guide I55 fixedly secured to the gooseneck bracket55. The plunger head I52 is yieldingly urged downward by a spring I55;and affixed to the upper end of the plunger stem I53 above the guide bya set screw I5? is a collar I58. A small lever I59 pivoted at I59a onthe guide I55 has one of its ends notched, see Fig. 19, to engage theset screw I5? from beneath, and its other end extending beneath thelateral lug projection I35 on the movable cutter blade I32. Accordingly,upon each actuation of the cutter blade I52, the pressure of the springI56 upon the plunger head I52 is relieved to facilitate I 6 insertion orwithdrawal of the yarn c" from be neath the clamp tongue I45. The liftof the front end of the clamp tongue I45 is limited by an arched stoppiece I60 (Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 8) secured by screws IBI to the segmentalplate I46 and the disk 60. Rising from the disk 64 (see Figs. 3, 4, 7-10and 12) is a thread guard I62 with a curved rigid tongue portion I53which lies alongside the plate II outwardly thereof, and which, asshown, has a pendent flange I64 overhanging the circumferential edge ofthe disk 65.

Operation In the knitting of the welt of the stocking, the feed for theyarn a at the main feeding station A only is used, and upon completionand closing of the welt, the auxiliary feeds 44 and. 45 are successivelyinserted during a single rotation of the needle cylinder in preparationfor the knitting of the calf and ankle portions of the stocking from allthree yarns as in Fig. 3. When the course at which the heel is to bebegun is reached, the feed 36 at the main station A is substituted forthe feed 35, and the auxiliary feeds 44 and 45 are retracted in reverseorder, but likewise during a, single rotation of the needle cylinder,whereupon the heel pocket is knitted from the yarn y only. From Fig. 11it will be noted that as the main body yarn a is withdrawn, it is pulledbeneath the clamp tongue I8 by the rotation of the needle cylinder I,and finally under the finger Ha of plate I! as in Fig. 8 enroute to thecutter 65. Upon withdrawal of the feed 44, the auxiliary yarn b issimilarly drawn over the plate II and guard I62 and beneath the clampII2 en route to the cutter 90, being incidently intercepted by the guardI25 as shown in Fig. 8. Upon withdrawal of the feed 45, the auxiliaryyarn c is in a like manner dragged by rotation of the needle cylinder I,beneath the clamp I45 as shown in Fig. 11, and en route the cutter I35,kinked about the leg of the element I64 as shown in Fig. 12. Thus inbeing withdrawn, the auxiliary yarns b and c are definitely maintainedin a different plane from the yarn a, so that interference between andentanglement of these yarns is effectively precluded; During subsequentreinsertion of the yarns a, b and c in preparation for the knitting ofthe instep portion of the stocking after the heel is completed,interference and entanglement are likewise prevented in the manner aboutto be described. In being drawn from the clamp I8 upon reinsertion ofthe feed 35, the end of the main yarn a is held down by the guide fingerlIa and the plate II, and dragged beneath the flange of the guard fingerI62 as shown in Figs. 21 and 26. In being further pulled along by themovement of the cylinder I, the yarn a is confined to the intervalbetween the undercut portion of plate II and the top surface of the disk60 as shown in Fig. 22 from whence it is eventually pulled free. Uponreinsertion of the feed 44, the clamped trailing end of the auxiliarybody yarn b is drawn over the top of plate II by rotation of the needlecylinder I and dragged beneath the finger II2 as shown in Fig. 23. Incontinuing on, the trailing end of yarn in is pulled over the top ofguard finger I62 as shown in Figs. 23 and 27, above the level to whichthe main yarn a was confined during its withdrawal. In the same generalmanner the cut or trailing end of the auxiliary yarn c is drawn frombeneath the clamp I45 as shown in Fig. 25 and incidently prevented frominterfering with the main yarn a by reason of the elevation-of the.plate: I46 above. theatop surface of the disk-.60 over Whichzsaid:mainyarn: was

action at the stations B .and C: and the feed36 substituted for the feed35 at the mainstation A in preparation for the toe knitting with theyarn y.

Having thus described my invention,.I claim: .1

I ljYarn clamp mechanism fora circularknitting machine havinga rotaryneedle cylinder,

means'for actuating the needles, groups. of. in-

'dividually retractable interchangeable yarn, feeds i positioned atspaced intervals circumferentially:

of the cylinder, said mechanism including a'fixed supporting plate inconcentric relation tothe cylinder, clamps mountedon said plateat'different levels, one adjacent each group of yarn feeds for holdingthe respective yarn ends when;

the feeds are withdrawn, and guard means also on said plate associatedwith the respective clamps in the direction of cylinder rotation,,op-

.erative, upon successive insertion or withdrawal of individual feeds ofthe different groups to keep the yarns definitely separated whiledirecting them from or to the respective clampsat the difierent levels.

" 2. Yarn clamping mechanism according ,to

claim 1, further including means for momen-;

tarily easing the clamps to facilitate'entry, of the yarns into them asfeeds at the different stations are withdrawn.

3. Yarn clamping mechanism according to claim 1, furtherincluding meanson the plate for maintaining the yarns at definite levels as .theyarefed to the needles.

4. Yarn clamping mechanism according .to claim 1, wherein the clamps arein the formpf flexible tongues yieldingly maintained in contact withhorizontalsurfaces at the different levels on the supporting plate, saidtongues having upturned ends to guide the respective yarns beneath'qthemzzincidentito withdrawal of the feeds of.'the different groups.

5. Yarn severing and clamping mechanism for a circular knitting machinehaving a rotary .nee- -1dle. cylinder, means for actuating the needles,

and groups of 'individually-retractable inter- .changeable'yarn feedspositioned at spaced interi'vals circumferentially of the cylinder, saidmechanism including a fixed supporting plate in concentric relation" tothe cylinder, clamps mounted 1 on said plateat different levels, oneadjacent each group. ofyarn feeds. for holding. the respective yam endswhen the feeds are withdrawn, cuttersindividually associated withtheclamps at :thefdifierent levels, guard meansalso on. said,;zplate:respectively associated with the respective ;clamps,operative,v upon successive insertion or withdrawal of, individual feeds-of the different groups toykeep the-yarns definitely separated clampsandacutters'at the different levels, and .meansforactuating the cuttersto sever the re- ,spective "yarns after they are fully. engaged by ;jtheclamps,

whiledirectingthem from or to the respective 6. Yarn severing andclamping means according to. claim'5, further including means formomentarily easing, the clamps to facilitate entryof the yarns into themas the feeds at the different stations, are withdrawn.

'7. vYarn severing and clamping mechanism according-t0 claim 5, furtherincluding means on vthegplatefor maintaining the yarns at definitelevelsas they are fedto the needles.

EUGENE F, MILLER.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileofthis: patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,500,083 Larkin July 1, 1924"2,099,307 McAdams Nov. 16, 1937 2,101,639 Caudle Dec. 7, 1937 2,137,362Smith et al Nov. 22, 1938 2,146,647 Page Feb. 7, 1939 2,199,302..C,oleman Apr. 20, 1940

